Dust-proof watch-case



(No Model.)

W. H. FITZ GERALD 8v G. C. SMITH.

DUST PROOF WATCH CASE. No. 287.919. 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALTER H. FITZ GERALD AND GEORGE C. SMITII, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DUST-PROOF WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,919, dated November6, 1883.

Application filed August 6, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,\VALrER H. Firz GER- ALD and GEORGE C. SMITH, bothcitizens of the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDust- Proof fateli-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to render a watclrcase dust and moistureproof` in a cheap, simple, and efficient manner, and without involvingthe use of cumbersome, unsightly, and expensive appendages.

To such end our improvement may be generally stated to consist in a rimfor holding the movement seated in the center, and provided with twocenceutric annular shoulders, upon which au inner aud an outer bezel,respectively, are tted,whereby the outer bezel, constituting an annularcap, which can be readily snapped upon or removed from the rims, servesas a means for effectively closing the opening for the hand-set, andthereby Apreventing the entrance of dust or moisture into the case.

It also consists in a stuffingbox through which the stem passes,wherebythe operation of the stem for purposes of winding up the watch or foractuating the usual v`catch-spring shall in nowise tend to cause dust towork through into the case, thereby rendering the latter both dust andmoisture proofa feature which is of great importance to a watch.

Figure l represents a section taken transversely through alimiting-watch case with our improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of an inner ring or rim adapted to be fitted in thecenter of the case. Fig. 3 is a top view of said rim. Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view-of a portion of the case, and illustrates the way inwhich the rim issecured in the center. Figs. 5 and 6, respectively,illustrate the bezels.

Referring by letter to the several figures of the drawings, in whichlike letters denote like parts- A indicates the center of ahunting-watch ease, provided with a front, B, and with a pendant, C, asusual.

rlhe movement, which is not herein shown, is seated and held in a ringor annular rim,

(No model.)

D, which is in turn `fitted within the center and seated therein upon anannular seat, A, formed with the center. The rim is secured upon theseat by means of two or more small screws, E, passing through the seatinto screw` threaded sockets F on the perimeter of the rim, one of saidconnections between the center and the rim being shown in the detailsectional view, Fig. 4. The rim is provided on its top or front edgewith an annular shoulder, D', upon which a bezel is snapped, as usual,and it is also provided in said edge with a notch, F, forming a passagethrough which the handset of the movement can be projected.

The bezel G is formed with a notch, G', which is brought into registerwith the notch in the rim, when the bezel is snapped upon the latter, sothat a free passage shall be afforded for the hand-set with which themovement will be furnished. In order to prevent dust from finding itswaythrough this passage and work ing in between the movement and therim, and consequently into the movement, we provide the rim upon itsfront edge with a second outer and annular shoulder, H, upon which asecond outer bezel, I, is snapped or otherwise secured. This outer andlarger bezel is dissimilar to the inner bezel in that it has no notchwhereby the passage for the hand-set shall be completely covered, andall entrance of dust through the same thereby eifectually prevented.Either bezel can be employed for holding the glass, although the innerbezel will preferably be ein ployed for such purpose, while the outerbezel will constitute an annular cap fitted over the inner bezel, andserving to prevent dust from finding its way into the movement ofthewatch. Thesebezelsaresnapped ou their allotted shoulders in the samemanner as an ordinary watchbezel is snapped on, and hence,when itbecomes necessary to have access to the hand-set, the

' outer bezel can be readily sprung oli', and afterward snapped on theouter shoulder without difleulty. A bezel, K, can also be snapped on theback side of the rim, or the usual hinged back cap can be connected withthe center, as preferred, it being seen that the back-cap will oitselfserve as means for keeping dust from the interior of the ease.

As a further means for rendering the case IOO dust or moisture indingits way into the case through the pendant. To such end we provide asmall hollow boss or box, L, upon the perimeter of the rim, and in suchhollow boss fit a suitable elastic packing, M, through which the stem Npasses. This boss is covered by a small cap, O, having a perforationregistering with the bore through the packing, whereby the stem can passand work through the said cap and packing, which latter, while tting thestem, so as to prevent dust from working past the same, will in no wiseinterfere with4v the free operation of the stem. The axial bore throughthe stuffing-box registers with the bore through the pendant, the rimbeing adapted so that when properly seated the said two bores shall bein line, and thereby admit of the stem passing and working through thesame.

The stem is shown provided with a crown, N', as usual, while therequisite springs belonging to the ease are omitted, it being understoodthat any suitable construction of lift and catch springs can be employedwhere a hinged front is used.

The stuffing-box through which the pendant passes is herein shownlocated on the rim; but, if desired, it canv be arranged in the pendant,where it will efficiently serve to exclude dust from the case.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is y f l. The combination, in a Watch-case",- of thecenter with a rim for holding the movement seated in the center yandprovided with an inner and an outer annular bezel, both removablysecured to the said rim, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a watch-case, ofthe center with a rim for holdingthe movement, seated and secured in said center and provided with twoannular shoulders, and a pair of bezels fitted upon the shoulders of therim, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the center and the rim provided with twoannular shoulders and a notch forming a passage for the hand-set, of

the inner notched bezel fitted upon the inner shoulder, Aand the outerbezel fitted upon the outer shoulder and covering the passage for thehand-set, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with the center provided with a pendant, of the rimhaving a stui- A ing-box with an axial bore registeringwith the borethrough the pendant, and thestem passing and working through saidstuiingbox, substantially as described.

WALTER n. FiTz GERALD.l eno. c. sMiTH. l

Witnesses:

CHAs. G. PAGE, f XV. W. ELLIOTT.

